Camden County voters will be asked to approve a sales use tax on out-state purchases to replace last revenue due to a Missouri Supreme Court ruling handed down last year.

The previous sales tax — utilized by the state and many county/local governments since the 1940s - was ruled unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court in January 2012. Collections were ended in March 2012 as a result.

If approved, the use tax would allow the county to replace the revenue from the former sales tax on out-of-state and individual-to-individual sales of vehicles, boats and other large ticket items.

The Camden County Commission has voted to move forward with a ballot issue in April.

Presiding Commissioner Kris Franken said the county did vote to place the use tax on the ballot for the April 2, 2013 election. A simple majority will be required for the use tax to pass.

Franken said it will only affect purchases of items for which the sales tax is paid at the Missouri Department of Revenue License Bureau that were made out of state.

"This will hopefully help our local vehicle and boat dealers by not incentivizing people to leave the state to make these large purchases to avoid county and municipal taxes. It is estimated by extrapolations from Missouri counties that do have the use tax that Camden county is losing at least $300,000 per year under the current situation. It is our opinion that this is not a new tax as it was being paid until roughly a year ago, and is potentially removing sales and income from the private sector because some people are purchasing items out of state to avoid some taxes. These taxes go directly to our road and bridge fund, which is where we need funds the most right now."

Laurie city officials have also voted to put the issue on the April ballot.